Matthew Ross was featured by his local newspaper for his excellence in high school football, basketball and baseball.

How ironic that the phrase ‘honesty is the best policy’ has led to one young aspiring banker commanding the respect and attention of seasoned bankers as one ‘no frills’ undergraduate student looking for a shot as an intern at a boutique investment bank.

In an industry sadly bereft of honesty one young aspiring banker, Matthew Ross took the time to write a cover letter that so impressed the individual it was meant for that he in turn decided to share it with other Wall st executives for its candor which of course then led it to being shared by other executives, social media and so forth.

What makes the letter so refreshing to Wall st honchos isn’t the fact that Ross pumps up his resume with self flattery (really how much have most 22 year olds accomplished?) or how terrific his grades are nor the fact that he makes reference to his Ivy league pedigree (he has none, he is straight state school) but rather the young man’s matter of fact determination to gain entry into the industry, learn as much as he can whilst still applying himself to higher education and professional pursuits.

Perhaps what makes the letter most interesting is not only its candor but the suggestion that Wall st bosses are from time to time willing to overlook the traditional pedigree qualifications they insist is the best fit which might be a backhand way of saying maybe Wall st bosses are starting to come clean with the notion that just because you know such and such and were educated at a premium entity doesn’t necessarily mean one has the pizzaz to excel, the integrity or ability to make good decisions or simply the discipline and resolve to do anything it takes to get ones foot through the door. Of course what makes the letter a little sad is the fact that the applicant might be wasting his integrity and good attitude in an industry sorely lacking in those very qualities….

To date the UK’s dailymail has gone on to report that Ryan Bouley, a broker at Duff and Phelps, said if someone with Matthew’s qualities were to come on board, he certainly would not be shining shoes and said he is just the type of person the company are looking for.

Then there were these comments on the web that caught my attention as well, spelling mistakes aside:

I dont know if it will fly well but i was just tired, like this guy, trying to up play my accomplishments and write a uppity brown nosing letter just to be turned down. At least this way i had fun. They can take it or leave it and hire their GED folks.If memory serves me correctly, the word ‘crap’ is spelled with only one “p,” instead of the two that the gentleman used.

Other than that, I wouldn’t hire anyone who used the word ‘crap’ in a business letter, whether it was spelled correctly or not. If he can’t control his language in a business letter, I’d be worried about how he might speak to one of my ultra-conservative clients.

About

I think the idea to start “Scallywag and Vagabond.” (SCV) originates from my myriad background and the many years I have spent in preferred cafes and brasseries extolling the virtues and subtle intricacies of ‘being’ as the Beaujolais ran, the cigarette wafted and the gentleman to my side pontificated while spraying himself with a deftly tied cravat and sun crested idolatry.’

I grew up in Australia where as a young man one was obliged to become a hero of sorts. A master swimmer, fighter of causes, ideals and disheveled denizen of aesthetics, and more often a carefree ‘larrikin’ who would occasionally poke his sun bronzed nose at authority and convention Read More